Application for OCI Cards

Erstwhile PIO card holders are advised to submit the application for issuing of OCI card (in lieu of valid PIO cards) latest by 29.12.2017. Please refer to the link https://passport.gov.in/oci for details.

The PIO card scheme has been withdrawn. It may also please be noted that the International Civil Aviation Organisation has specified that only machine readable travel documents would be acceptable w.e.f. October 2018. The PIO cards being handwritten documents, will become invalid travel documents w.e.f. this date. Those travelling to India on the strength of hand written PIO cards beyond October 2018, would be refused entry at the Indian Immigration counters and sent back. All PIO card holders are, therefore, required to convert it to OCI card at the earliest. The fee for conversion of PIO card to OCI card is SGD 180.00.

Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who have migrated from India and acquired citizenship of a foreign country, other than Pakistan and Bangladesh are eligible for grant of Overseas Citizenship of India.

OCI status confers the following benefits:

Multiple-entry, multi-purpose life-long visa to visit India

Exemption from reporting to Police authorities for any length of stay in India

Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties, and

A person registered as OCI is eligible to apply for grant of Indian citizenship under section 5(1) (g) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 if he/she is registered as OCI for five years and has been residing in India for one year out of the five years before making the application.

Registered OCI shall be treated at par with Non-Resident-Indian in the matter of inter-country adoption of Indian children.

Registered OCI shall be treated at par with resident Indian nationals in the matter of tariffs in air fares in domestic sectors in India.

Registered OCI shall be charged the same entry fee as domestic Indian visitors to visit national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India

Parity with Non-Resident Indian in respect of entry fees to be charged for visiting the national monuments, historical sites and museums in India;

Pursuing the following professions in India, in pursuance of the provisions contained in the relevant Acts, namely:-doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists; advocates; architects; and chartered accountants.

Parity with Non-Resident Indian to appear for the All India Pre-medical Test or such other tests to make them eligible for admission in pursuance of the provisions contained in the relevant Acts.

State Governments should ensure that the OCI registration booklets of OCIs are treated as their identification for any services rendered to them. In case proof of residence is required, Overseas Citizens of India may give an affidavit attested by a notary public stating that a particular/specific address may be treated as their place of residence in India and may also in their affidavit give their overseas residential address as well as e-mail address, if any.

Benefits to which OCI is not entitled to: The OCI holder is not entitled to vote, be a member of Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council or Parliament, cannot hold constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court or High Court etc. and he/she cannot normally hold employment in the Government.

Procedure: Application for registration as OCI is to be made online through the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs at https://passport.gov.in/oci . Instructions therein may be perused carefully particularly with respect to supporting documents required so that there is no mistake in submission of application. Once application form has been filed online, copy of the printout of the same is required to be submitted at our Authorised Service Centres. Please visit- www.blsindia.sg for details.

Documents required: The required documents listed below are indicative in nature and an attempt has been made to cover majority of the cases. However, the Consular Officer may ask for additional documents after examining the application. After making an online application, please report to the Authorised Service Centres with a hard copy of the application along with the following documents:

One Photograph (51mmx51mm) or (50mm x 50mm) with light colored background (square shape with 80% coverage by face). Photographs that do not conform to these standards will be rejected and may cause a delay in processing the application.

Evidence of self, parents, grandparents or great-grandparents previous Indian Passport, Birth Certificate, valid foreign passport held and local residential proof.

If the applicant ever held an Indian Passport, then proof of renunciation of citizenship/surrender of passport should also be submitted.

Evidence of relationship as parent/grandparent/great-grandparents, if their Indian origin is claimed as basis for grant of OCI.

In case the applicant does not have an old Indian Passport, he/she may provide copy of other documents issued from India such as birth certificates, nativity certificates etc. These will be sent to India for verification before acceptance of the application form. A fee of SGD 35 will be applicable for document verification.

A Copy of Singapore NRIC, EP, DP,LTSVP, S Pass or WP is to be attached with the application.

All the above documents are to be produced in original for verification and photocopies of the same are to be attached with the application.

After grant of registration, a registration certificate in the form of a booklet will be issued. Carrying OCI card is must while travelling to India.

A person who has not attained the age of 18 years is considered as minor. In case of minor who cannot sign, his/her left thumb impression may be placed in the signature box. Parents should not sign on behalf of minors.

If there are any objections while processing the application, the same will be displayed on the online status enquiry. Please follow the instructions and send requisite documents to the Mission quoting the File (or acknowledgement) number.

Granting OCI card to spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder may take some time pending clearances. The marriage should have been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application. A sponsor letter by the Spouse of Indian Origin is to be furnished along with the OCI application

Entries made in the foreign passports or foreign origin documents are not accepted as proof of Indian origin.

Foreign passport holders who are resident in Singapore are required to produce residence proof like PR, EP and a fee of S $ 20 is to be paid in addition for clearance.

OCI services are not available to :

step-children and adopted children

asylees.

applicants with a single parent whose birth certificate mention about only one parent

minors who are born out of live- in relationship

Foreign national whose Indian spouse is deceased.

OCI Miscellaneous Services have been made available on the Ministry's website http://passport.gov.in/oci and can be availed for re-issuance/issuance of duplicate OCI Registration Certificate and Visa in the following category of cases:

Procedure: These services can be availed by applying online and submitting hard copy of the application along with the requisite fee and enclosures as mentioned in the application to the Authorised Service Centres.

Documents to be enclosed along with the application:

(a) Original OCI registration certificate and visa and a copy of the same.

(b) In case of issuance of a new passport, copy of U-visa pasted on the old passport along with copy of registration certificate has to be enclosed. If the old passport is not returned by the concerned authorities while issuing new passport and copy of the U-visa had not been taken prior to the surrender of old passport, they may not be enclosed. Please also enclose copy of the new passport.

(c) In case of loss of OCI Registration Certificate and/or Visa, copy of the complaint lodged with Police authorities and copy of visa and registration certificate to be enclosed.

(d) In case of change of personal particulars e.g. wrong filling of particulars by the applicant, copy of the document (s) relevant for affecting the requisite changes viz. Nationality Certificate in case of change of nationality etc. to be enclosed.

OCI Registration Certificate shall be issued in respect of any/ all service(s). The status of the application can be verified from the Online Status Enquiry.

OCI registration certificate have got to be re-issued each time a new passport is issued up to the completion of 20 years of age and once after completion of 50 years of age.

Re-issuance of OCI registration certificate is not mandatory each time a new passport is issued between 21-50 years of age. The applicant can continue to travel carrying the old passport along with new passport and the OCI card for visiting India. However, if the applicant wishes to obtain new OCI card, he/she can apply for the same.

One Photograph (51mmx51mm) or (50mm x 50mm) with light colored background (square shape with 80% coverage by face). Photographs that do not conform to these standards will be rejected and may cause a delay in processing the application

Copy of Singapore NRIC, EP, DEP,LTSVP,SPass or student pass is to be furnished along with the application.

All the above documents are to be produced in original for verification and photocopies of the same are to be attached with the application.

The grant or otherwise of the service(s) sought shall be ordinarily decided in one month from the receipt of hard copy of the application.

If existing PIO card holders have lost or damaged PIO card, the applicant is required to apply for OCI services. A fee of SGD 129 is to be paid as OCI replacement fee. (to be done on or before 31st December 2016).

Collection of OCI documents: On preparation of OCI document, applicant is required to be present in person or he/she can send a duly authorized person, along with his/her foreign passport & PIO card (if any) for collection of the OCI documents. No passport or OCI document will be sent by Dak/Post or Mail.

OCI card does NOT entitle the cardholder to undertake any missionary, mountaineering and research work in India, without the prior permission of the Government of India. Prior permission of the competent authority is also required for visiting restricted/protected area (for details, visit http://www.mea.gov.in/Images/pdf/ForeigD-FAQs-onPAPandRAP.pdf ).

OCI/PIO Card holders intending to visit India for commissioning surrogacy would not require a separate Medical Visa. However, on arrival in India and before commissioning surrogacy, they will have to obtain a special permission from FRRO/FRO concerned.

Kindly note that the High Commission will accept an application for grant of OCI status after satisfying itself on the adequacy and authenticity of supporting documentation provided. In certain cases this is likely to take time as the documents may require verification from the issuing authorities in India. In these cases the High Commission cannot prescribe the timeframe within which the OCI card will be issued. In these cases, at the stage of initial application, an acknowledgement will be provided to you. Applicants are advised to keep in touch with the High Commission or Authorized Service Centres to follow up.